Single-piece sealing cover

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a single-pieced sealing cover ( 1 ) made of a thermoplastic elastomer, especially used to seal an opening ( 22, 22′, 22 ″) in a support ( 20, 20′, 20 ″) comprising a base body ( 5 ) with an adjacent peripheral collar ( 7 ) which turns into at least one elastic sealing lip ( 10, 10 ′) abutting against one side of the support, whereby the collar ( 7 ) presents at least one detent ring ( 12 ) positioned opposite the sealing lip ( 10, 10 ′).  
     It is characterized in that the collar ( 7 ) is connected with the sealing lip ( 10, 10 ′) via an intermediate area ( 14 ) extending parallel to a covering surface (F) of the support ( 20, 20′, 20 ″), that the detent ring ( 12 ) protrudes into an interior space ( 21 ) formed by the intermediate area ( 14 ) and the sealing lip ( 10, 10 ′) and that an outer area of the sealing lip ( 10, 10 ′) is cementable with the covering surface (F) of the support ( 20, 20′, 20 ″).

The invention relates to a single-pieced sealing cover made of a thermoplastic elastomer, especially used to seal an opening in a support, comprising a base body, with an adjacent peripheral collar, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Sealing covers of this kind (DE 35 12 582 C3, DE 37 13 503 C1) are already known as state of the art. These sealing covers respectively present an elastic sealing lip, and—opposite to same—one or several detent rings. As a result thereof; in mounted state, perfect sealing is to be assured, in addition to excellent holding property in a support. In order to satisfy the aforementioned requirements in such known constructions, it is a drawback that it is necessary to have available different sealing covers for different designs of the support in the area of its opening.

Thus, the present invention is based on the object of creating a sealing cover of the initially mentioned type which will ensure secure and effective sealing of said support opening regardless of the design of the area of the support opening.

Said object is solved according to the invention in that the collar is joined with the sealing lip by means of an intermediate area extending parallel vis-a-vis a covering surface of the support, so that the detent ring protrudes into an interior space formed by the intermediate area and the sealing lip, and that an exterior area of the sealing lip can be glued to the cover surface of the support.

By means of the combined effect of these individual characteristics, a sealing cover of novel design is created which facilitates significant reduction in parts and which permits, due to the specifically employed thermoplastic elastomer, gluing to the cover surface in the area of the support opening. In addition to simple installation, this results in perfect sealing of the respective support opening.

In further embodiment of the invention, the sealing lip can, to a large extent, cover the detent ring.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, there exists the possibility of the sealing lip presenting frontally, as exterior area, several serrated ribs, which can be glued to the covering surface of the support. These serrated ribs, in interaction with the detent ring, ensure secure sealing of the respective support opening, regardless of its configuration.

Alternatively there also exists the possibility of the sealing lip being designed in conically tapering fashion vis-a-vis the covering surface of the support and that it can be glued together with same, resulting in the identical aforementioned effects.

The detent ring can lie in the plane of the base body and present an impact lip in front. Furthermore, there exists the possibility that the outer surfaces of the sealing lip and the detent ring are inclined towards each other. Adjacent to the outer surface of the detent ring there may be an area which changes over into the impact lip, said area presenting the same inclination as the outer surface of the sealing lip.

The invention is described in detail below by means of exemplary embodiments represented in the drawing. The drawing shows the following:

FIG. 1 a center section through the invention-specific sealing cover in a first specific embodiment,

FIG. 2 a,b,c various design possibilities of the support opening in center section, partially refracted,

FIG. 3 a bird's eye view of the sealing cover according to FIG. 1, partially refracted,

FIG. 4 a lateral view of the sealing cover according to FIGS. 1 and 3, partially refracted,

FIG. 5 an enlarged view of the area X according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 another embodiment possibility of the invention in the area of the sealing lip, in center section, partially refracted.

A single-piece sealing cover 1 is depicted in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, made of a thermoplastic elastomer. Said sealing cover specifically serves for sealing an opening 22 or 22′ or 22″ of a support shown schematically in FIG. 2. Said support, according to FIG. 2 a, can present an outwardly oriented collar, according to FIG. 2 b it can extend flat, and according to FIG. 2 c, it can have an inwardly oriented collar. With the aid of the invention-specific sealing cover, there now exists the possibility of installing same in perfect fashion, even with differently designed supports 20, 20′ or 20″, in the area of the respective opening, and to seal said opening.

The sealing cover 1 presents a base body 5, with an adjacent peripheral collar 7. The peripheral collar 7 passes over into at least one elastic sealing lip 10 abutting against one side of the support, whereby the collar 7 presents at least one detent ring 12, positioned opposite the sealing lip 10.

As is especially apparent from FIGS. 1 and 5, collar 7 is connected with the sealing lip 10 by means of an intermediate area 14 extending parallel to a covering surface F (FIG. 2) of the support 20, 20′, 20″. Beyond that, the detent ring 12 protrudes into an interior space 21, formed by the intermediate area 14 and the sealing lip 10, as is specifically evident from FIG. 5.

According to the invention, an outer area of the sealing lip 10 can now be glued to the covering surface F of the support 20, 20′, 20″.

It is apparent from FIG. 1, that the sealing lip 10 largely covers the detent ring 12. In addition, in the specific embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 5, the sealing lip 10 presents several serrated ribs 23 in front as exterior area, which can be glued to the covering surface F of the respective support.

The detent ring 12 according to FIGS. 1 and 5 lies in the plane of the base body 5 and presents, frontally, an impact lip 25. It is specifically apparent from FIG. 5 that the outer surfaces A₁, A₂ of the sealing lip 10 and the detent ring 12 are inclined towards each other. According to the invention there also exists the possibility in this case that adjacent to the outer surface A₂ of the detent ring 12 there extends is an area U, which changes over into the impact lip 25, said area U presenting somewhat the same inclination as the outer surface A₁ of the sealing lip 10.

If a support 20 is present according FIG. 2 a with a correspondingly shaped collar, the sealing lip 10 with serrated ribs 23 impinges upon the area F of the support, while the detent ring 12 with impact lip 25 overgrips the respective collar of the support 20.

With a support 20′ according to FIG. 2 b, the elastic sealing lip 10 with serrated ribs 23 impinges upon the area F of support 20′, whereas the detent ring 12 with impact lip 25 overcovers the other side of the support and both elements are glued together.

If a support 20″ with an opening 22″ exists, the respective collar positions itself again into the interior space 21 of the sealing cover 1, whereby the elastic sealing lip with its serrated ribs 23 is likewise glued together with the area F of support 20″.

Instead of the specific embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 5, in which the elastic sealing lip 10 presents several serrated ribs 23, there also exists the possibility according to FIG. 6 that in this case the elastic sealing lip 10′ is designed in conically tapering fashion towards the covering surface F of support 20, 20′, 20″ and is cementable with same.

By virtue of the design of the interior space 21, the particular shape of the sealing lip 10 or 10′ and of the detent ring 12 and due to the special selection of material in that the sealing cover is made of a thermoplastic material, there is assurance, by simple means, of significant reduction of parts in the design of the sealing cover. 

1. A single-piece sealing cover (1) made of a thermoplastic elastomer for sealing an opening (22, 22′, 22″) in an associated support (20, 20′, 20″), the sealing cover comprising a base body (5) with an adjacent peripheral collar (7), at least one elastic sealing lip (10) abutting against one side of the support (20, 20′, 20″), the collar (7) presenting at least one detent ring (12) located opposite the sealing lip (10), the collar (7) being connected with the sealing lip (10) via an intermediate area (14), and whereby the detent ring (12) protrudes into an interior space (21) formed by the intermediate area (14) and the sealing lip (10), the intermediate area (14) extends parallel to a covering surface (F) of the support (20, 20′, 20″), and an outer area of the sealing lip (10) is cementable with the covering surface (F) of the support (20, 20′, 20″) by means of several serrated ribs (23).
 2. The sealing cover according to claim 1, wherein the detent ring (12) lies in the plane of the base body (5) and includes an impact lip (25) at one end.
 3. The sealing cover according to claim 1 wherein the outer surfaces (A₁, A₂) of the sealing lip (10) and the detent ring (12) are inclined towards each other.
 4. The sealing cover according to claim 3, wherein the detent ring (12) includes an area (U) between the outer surface (A₂) and the detent lip (25), the area (U) having the same inclination as the outer surface (A₁) of the sealing lip (10). 5-7. (canceled)
 8. A single piece sealing cover (1) for insertion into an opening (22, 22′, 22″) formed in an associated support (20, 20′, 20″) for closing and sealing the opening (22, 22′, 22″), the sealing cover (1) comprising: a main body portion (5) and an adjacent peripheral collar (7); an intermediate area (14) formed between the peripheral collar (7) and a continuous peripheral outer elastic sealing lip (10), the collar (7) being connected on a first end to the main body (5) and connected on a second end to the intermediate area (14), and the sealing lip (10) terminating at a first end with a plurality of serrated ribs (23) and connected on a second end to the intermediate area (14), the collar (7) including at least one detent ring (12) located opposite the sealing lip (10), the detent ring (12) protruding into an interior space (21) formed by the collar (7), the intermediate area (14), and the sealing lip (10), and the intermediate area (14) and the ribs (23) extending parallel to a covering surface (F) of the support (20,20′,20″) wherein the serrated ribs (23) remain in contact with the covering surface (F) during closing and sealing and are cementable to the covering surface (F).
 9. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 8, wherein the detent ring (12) is substantially coplanar with the main body (5); and, the detent ring (12) at one end includes an impact lip (25) projecting into the interior space (21).
 10. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 8, wherein the sealing lip (10) includes a first outer surface (A₁) and the detent ring (12) includes a second outer surface (A₂), the first outer surface (A₁) is inclined towards the second outer surface (A₂).
 11. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 10, wherein the detent ring (12) includes an area (U) extending between the second outer surface (A₂) and impact lip (25), the area (U) having substantially the same inclination as the first outer surface (A₁) of the sealing lip (10).
 12. A single piece sealing cover (1) for insertion into an opening (22, 22′, 22″) formed in an associated support (20, 20′, 20″) for closing and sealing the opening (22, 22′, 22″), the sealing cover (1) comprising: a main body portion (5) and an adjacent peripheral collar (7); a continuous peripheral outer lip (10) spaced apart from and extending circumferentially relative to the main body (5), the outer lip (10) including a plurality of serrated ribs (23) at a first end adapted to be cemented to a covering surface (F) of the associated support (20,20′,20″) adjacent the opening (22,22′,22″); and, an intermediate area (14) connecting the second end of the collar (7) with the sealing lip (10), the intermediate area (14) permitting relative axial movement between the main body (5) and the sealing lip (10) thereby maintaining contact between the ribs (23) and the covering surface (F) while closing and sealing the opening (22,22′,22″) with the cover (1).
 13. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 12, wherein the collar (7) includes at least one detent ring (12) located opposite the sealing lip (10), the detent ring (12) protruding into an interior space (21) formed by the collar (7), the intermediate area (14), and the sealing lip (10).
 14. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 12, wherein the collar (7) is connected on a first end to the main body (5) and connected on a second end to the intermediate area (14).
 15. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 12, wherein: the detent ring (12) is substantially coplanar with the main body (5); and, the detent ring (12) at one end includes an impact lip (25) projecting into the interior space (21).
 16. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 12, wherein the sealing lip (10) includes a first outer surface (A₁) and the detent ring (12) includes a second outer surface (A₂), the first outer surface (A₁) is inclined towards the second outer surface (A₂).
 17. The sealing cover (1) according to claim 16, wherein the detent ring (12) includes an area (U) extending between the second outer surface (A₂) and the impact lip (25), the area (U) having the same inclination as the first outer surface (A₁) of the sealing lip (10). 